Plastic stuff on bridge dash

[(Nobody You Know)]

My 40' 1988 DC utilizes an inexpensive black plastic material commonly used for indoor signs and engraving to serve as removable backing plates for which all instruments, switches and guages are mounted. Not surprisingly this material is getting brittle and starting to break up. Mike at Sam's said he was not aware if they had a suitable replacement material. Anybody run accross something that will do the job and can be labeled?

Thanks,
Capt'n Bill

 

[Passages]

Would a thin layer of King Starboard work? Stuff is easy to work with and indestructible - BUT nothing will stick to it.

To label you would need to either have it engraved or mechanically fasten a standard label on it.

 

[Beckytek]

You can get the clear plexiglass from Home Depot. It comes in different thickness. You can cut all the openings and drill the holes, then paint the back with a flat black paint. I have made many panels this way and they look good. I have never had the engraving done though, but there are places that do. I also had the plastic warning labels etc that are on the console made at a copy shop. The old ones were faded and cracked. I have the same boat as you. Ron

 

[labrador]

Ron, have you replaced yours? I was thinking that I'm going to have to do mine this winter

 

[spartonboat1]

Re: Plastic stuff on bridge dash/ LEXAN

When upgrading the white-light forward running light to the latest Hatteras lighting, I had to make an adapter plate. I bought a section of off size Lexan from Lowes. It was easy to cut and shape and took the sealant well when mounted to the mast.

You might that material, painted black on back as noted above.

Also, the better locksmiths now have laser based/driven systems that can create images on a number of materials- plastic and metal. They can replicate any lettering or shape you can provide them from a PC image file- any font or size, etc., special image, etc. You might look into that.

They told me they could make up labels and signs for the engine room, e.g. Lube oil type, brand, 40 Wgt, other special notices or signs, which I intend to do.

 

[Liquid Asset]

There is a starboard like material taht is a two color sandwich which can be engraved like the panels on your boat. The hard part is finding it. I looked at it in Miami at the boat show last year and I have seen it in some boats. I dont know who makes it, but It woudl work.

 

[Ernie Piotrowski]

I've got a similar problem on my 32' FBSF. The corners have split with age. Also the instrument plastic panels are beginnning to split. When I spoke with Steve McPherson a couple of months ago, he stated they have found a contractor who can make the same panels if given a picture and the correct labelling for them. if you can get the backside of the panels and find a number, that would help immensely as I understand all parts had numbers and can be traced to the original plans. Steve said as an alternative, if you can give him the boat plan number for the drawing depicting those areas, he may be able to trace back and get the contractor to reproduce them. I had replaced my originals after two years due to the addition of gauges. Not real cheap but worth the price at that time. No idea what today's costs would be. I always wondered why Hatteras would use plastic susceptible to UV rays for the panels considering the cost is such a small part of the overall vessel cost. Good Look and let me know if you are successful with Steve.

 

[jim rosenthal]

If I were going to do this, I would want a material that was made to take all the UV and temp changes it would be subjected to on the bridge. Recently I had to have trim rings made up for the gauges on my bridge dash. They were cut from a material similar to Starboard, it might be ABS, which is black and kind of a matte or pebble finish. It works great. I got it from Annapolis Maritime Plastics- they know all the different materials available for this kind of application.
If you have to mount stuff to it, I would use 6mm or 1/4" stock. Thinner stuff may bend over time. If you don't need to write on it or you can screw lables to it, I would use Starboard. It is tough as hell and doesn't chalk or fade. I have had an extra piece sitting in the back of my pickup truck for two months in the rain and wind and dirt. It is unchanged.

 

[Beckytek]

Ron, have you replaced yours? I was thinking that I'm going to have to do mine this winter

No skip, my panels are in good shape. I replaced all of the instruments though. I used the Teleflex lido gauges with the white background and black lettering. They look great. Ron

 

[Captcoop]

If you are looking for the colored panels that are labeled to idenify the various swithces on the bridge go to a trouphy / engraving shop. They have various colors and can drill and engrave them to match the old ones. Good Luck